OAA Music

Music Theory

Pitch

Lesson Objectives

Aspire:

To understand why musicians use different rhythms and to be able to identify changes in pitch in music through listening skills

Challenge:

To begin to understand what pitch is in music, and start to identify different pitches in music through listening skills

What is Pitch

‘Pitch’ is the word we use to describe if the sounds an instrument is playing go HIGHER or LOWER.

It’s that simple!

On a Keyboard

On a Guitar or Bass

Middle C

The most important pitch on the keyboard is the C note in the middle of the instrument. This note is called MIDDLE C.

Task One

Draw the diagram out below on paper. Can you name the other notes on the keyboard? Can you remember the order they go in?

Answers

Octaves

The distance between two notes of the same name is called an OCTAVE.

Pitches on a Guitar & Bass

How is Pitch Written Down?

Music is written of a STAFF (five lines as below). Musical sounds are shown by the position of notes on the staff. Notes that are higher on the staff have a higher sound or pitch than those that are lower on the staff.

Task Two

Higher or Lower?

Answers

How do we Measure Pitch?

Pitch is measured in TONES and SEMITONES.

A tone is two steps on the keyboard. A semitone is one step on the keyboard.

All notes (white and black) are included:

Melody

Melody is another name for the TUNE of a piece of music.

We would describe a melody as ascending if it generally moves upwards in pitch.

We would describe a melody as descending if it generally moves downwards in pitch.

Ready for a Quiz?

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